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A West Country council has introduced £100 fines for people found begging.

“Local authorities should focus on finding ways to help the most vulnerable – not criminalise them and slap them with fines they can’t possibly pay”

Those caught drinking alcohol or feeding seagulls in parts of the seaside town of Weymouth, Dorset, will also be liable to pay the fixed penalty notices.

Weymouth & Portland Borough Council has decided to bring in a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in order to reduce antisocial behaviour along the promenade, in the town centre, and in some public parks and squares.

Feeding seagulls

Weymouth promenade (Photo: Getty)

The authority said the fines will only be used as a last resort and follow a public consultation.

Weymouth & Portland Borough Council said to i: “The Begging issues have been identified by the borough council, police, residents and shop owners, over the last few years.

“The responses to the public consultation made it clear, measures are wanted to deter begging in the town centre. Fixed Penalty Notices will be available if there is no other alternative to tackle the problem and will be used as a last resort.”

Conservative councillor Mike Byatt, briefholder for community safety, added: “We understand the difficulties of situations that lead individuals to begging, and will continue to be sensitive to people genuinely in need of our support.

“We have a close relationship with the homeless charity Julian House which we intend to continue so that those in need will still receive this support.”

Homeless charity

Areas included in the new drinking ban, covered by the PSPO, include the train station, the Rodwell Trail footpath, and Easton Square in Portland, an island connected to Weymouth by a purpose-built causeway.

Feeding gulls is now prohibited throughout the town centre and the promenade, while begging is forbidden in the town centre, in an area running from the river to the seafront.

The council had already introduced bylaws to prevent begging along the promenade.

Any £100 fine imposed must be paid within 28 days. The sum is reduced to £75 if paid within 14 days.

Weymouth & Portland is not the first council to enact such a PSPO. Several others across the country have introduced the measures, some which include begging.

‘Not a lifestyle choice’

Weymouth is a tourist hotspot (Photo: Getty)

Humans rights group Liberty said some authorities have talked about “aggressive” and “persistent” begging, which is usually described as begging “on more than one occasion”.

“If somebody is forced to beg or spend the night in a public toilet, that’s not a lifestyle choice or anti-social behaviour – that’s extreme poverty,” said Liberty.

“Local authorities should focus on finding ways to help the most vulnerable – not criminalise them and slap them with fines they can’t possibly pay.”

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